ECU: End of First Half Breakdown
- By CoverSix
- The Dungeon - Knights Only
- 74 Replies
Background: With 44 seconds left in the first half UCF was down 0 - 17. After the first completion, UCF didn't use a timeout to conserve time which led to meltdowns on here about Malzahn messing up and screwing up the time management. I chimed in to try and explain the "why" which is simply: UCF was never intending to score a touchdown on that drive. By not calling a timeout, Malzahn was hedging the clock so UCF wasn't in a worse position than down 17. My analysis was met with fierce feedback which admittedly I got suckered into and I apologize for the theatrics over that situation.
I was wrong about only one thing: ECU was in Cover 3, not 4 as you'll see below. Sorry about that, TV angles are ass and I thought I saw 4 back live but it was very clearly only 3. Nothing changes from my original input though, in fact it's worse that UCF wasn't challenging cover 3 than it would have been if ECU was in Cover 4 as it's easier to "break" 3 than it is a 4.
Regardless, here's how it played out.
Play 1:
I circled the "Cover 3" and additionally showed you how ECU was playing man underneath it. I stopped this video as soon as JRP releases the ball. You'll note how UCF is setting up a screen and has no routes going down the field. This play goes for several yards (not a first down) and UCF does not calll a timeout, which is what lead to all the temper tantrums being thrown.
Play 2:
I illustrated the Cover 3 with the arrows, the DBs there are responsible for nothing behind them. Once again I froze the film as JRP is releasing the ball, I've circled all of UCF's eligible receivers. You'll note none of them are challenging the Cover 3, these routes were designed to be underneath it. There's under 30 seconds here so again UCF is not trying to push the ball down for a touchdown.
Play 3:
Nothing new on this play. Once again ECU is in Cover 3 and UCF is not attempting to break it. First image is showing you the cover 3, and the second image is where the WR's were at the point of releasing the ball. UCF was very clearly not dialing up routes that defeat a cover 3 to get over the top of it (Think flood type concepts) and taking 10-15 yards, again, not trying to score a touchdown.
Play 4:
Final play (before the FG) of the first half. In the first image, you'll once again see the Cover 3. If you notice even on this picture from the film, UCF is only releasing two guys to attack the deep zones. But what I want you to look at is JRP's head and where the middle safety is. See how he's cheating to the field (strong) side of the field? This is going to lead to an opportunity that JRP takes but it's very important that you're tracking the middle safety isn't in the middle of his zone.
Per usual, I froze the film on JRP's release of the ball. You'll see three of five eligible WR's are settling low, while two are attacking deep. Notice where the safety I pointed out above is, he's a bit out of position and the WR at the top has gotten past the deep zone on the boundary (weak) side of the field. JRP correctly see's this and takes a shot. If I can ever get the GIFs working I'll show you something else telling, right before the snap JRP looks at the sideline and in my opinion probably got the "hot read" on this route. That's to say if he saw an opportunity to take it -- keep in mind JRP and the UCF offense was struggling all game so this isn't as automatic as it may seem in hindsight.
Last snapshot is where the ball was placed. You'll note that the deep (safety in the middle) is still in position to stop any hope at putting the ball into the enddzone, but regardless it was a nice throw and catch for some chunk yards to set up a score going into halftime.
Conclusion: With respect, if you criticized Malzahn's clock management at the end of the half, you didn't actually know what was going on. I'm only tagging @San Diego Knight and @hemightbejeremy because they were adamant that I didn't know what I was talking about when in reality -- I do. Apologies again to the board I let them troll me into some mudslinging but at the end of the day it's whatever. Hopefully this clears up any confusion you guys might have had about the way things played out at the end of the half. Ultimately, Malzahn was on a different level then most of the fans by not calling the timeout because he was never intending to score a touchdown. The last play was dialed up so that if the opportunity was there UCF was going to take it but ECU smartly did not allow a favorable matchup.
Feedback/questions welcome, I'm trying to figure out the best way to show you guys some stuff while also talking at a level that most here will understand. The intent is to make everyone everyone smarter so UCF can have a better fanbase. I'll do some more things over the next several weeks/months to help get through the offseason.
I was wrong about only one thing: ECU was in Cover 3, not 4 as you'll see below. Sorry about that, TV angles are ass and I thought I saw 4 back live but it was very clearly only 3. Nothing changes from my original input though, in fact it's worse that UCF wasn't challenging cover 3 than it would have been if ECU was in Cover 4 as it's easier to "break" 3 than it is a 4.
Regardless, here's how it played out.
Play 1:
I circled the "Cover 3" and additionally showed you how ECU was playing man underneath it. I stopped this video as soon as JRP releases the ball. You'll note how UCF is setting up a screen and has no routes going down the field. This play goes for several yards (not a first down) and UCF does not calll a timeout, which is what lead to all the temper tantrums being thrown.
Play 2:
I illustrated the Cover 3 with the arrows, the DBs there are responsible for nothing behind them. Once again I froze the film as JRP is releasing the ball, I've circled all of UCF's eligible receivers. You'll note none of them are challenging the Cover 3, these routes were designed to be underneath it. There's under 30 seconds here so again UCF is not trying to push the ball down for a touchdown.
Play 3:
Nothing new on this play. Once again ECU is in Cover 3 and UCF is not attempting to break it. First image is showing you the cover 3, and the second image is where the WR's were at the point of releasing the ball. UCF was very clearly not dialing up routes that defeat a cover 3 to get over the top of it (Think flood type concepts) and taking 10-15 yards, again, not trying to score a touchdown.
Play 4:
Final play (before the FG) of the first half. In the first image, you'll once again see the Cover 3. If you notice even on this picture from the film, UCF is only releasing two guys to attack the deep zones. But what I want you to look at is JRP's head and where the middle safety is. See how he's cheating to the field (strong) side of the field? This is going to lead to an opportunity that JRP takes but it's very important that you're tracking the middle safety isn't in the middle of his zone.
Per usual, I froze the film on JRP's release of the ball. You'll see three of five eligible WR's are settling low, while two are attacking deep. Notice where the safety I pointed out above is, he's a bit out of position and the WR at the top has gotten past the deep zone on the boundary (weak) side of the field. JRP correctly see's this and takes a shot. If I can ever get the GIFs working I'll show you something else telling, right before the snap JRP looks at the sideline and in my opinion probably got the "hot read" on this route. That's to say if he saw an opportunity to take it -- keep in mind JRP and the UCF offense was struggling all game so this isn't as automatic as it may seem in hindsight.
Last snapshot is where the ball was placed. You'll note that the deep (safety in the middle) is still in position to stop any hope at putting the ball into the enddzone, but regardless it was a nice throw and catch for some chunk yards to set up a score going into halftime.
Conclusion: With respect, if you criticized Malzahn's clock management at the end of the half, you didn't actually know what was going on. I'm only tagging @San Diego Knight and @hemightbejeremy because they were adamant that I didn't know what I was talking about when in reality -- I do. Apologies again to the board I let them troll me into some mudslinging but at the end of the day it's whatever. Hopefully this clears up any confusion you guys might have had about the way things played out at the end of the half. Ultimately, Malzahn was on a different level then most of the fans by not calling the timeout because he was never intending to score a touchdown. The last play was dialed up so that if the opportunity was there UCF was going to take it but ECU smartly did not allow a favorable matchup.
Feedback/questions welcome, I'm trying to figure out the best way to show you guys some stuff while also talking at a level that most here will understand. The intent is to make everyone everyone smarter so UCF can have a better fanbase. I'll do some more things over the next several weeks/months to help get through the offseason.
